Window draft preventing device

ABSTRACT

This window draft preventing device is of an adjustable spring biased construction including upper and lower spring biased frame assemblies joined together at their outer ends by upwardly extending end frame members of which a closure sheet of plastic and transparent material is extended and wrapped to make two or more passes between the end frame members with one end of the closure sheet being anchored to one of the end frame members and the free end of the closure sheet being anchored to the other member through spring tension means. The frame members may be either of square or rectangular section or of tubular section seen with the different forms of the device and the connection to the end frame members of the ends of the closure sheet may be effected through vertically extending rods connected either to the end frame members or to the top and bottom members. One of the end frame members may include a curtainlike tension roll as a tensioning means for the closure sheet. The closure sheet sufficiently long and arranged to have actual engagement with the side faces of the window frame at either the lower window or upper window and also provision is made for effecting a detachable sealing engagement of the upper and lower edges of the closure sheet with the upper and lower frame assemblies.

United States Patent Fischer 51 May 9,1972

[54] WINDOW DRAFT PREVENTING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Emanuel M. Fischer, ll Waverly Place,

New York, NY. 10003 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 101,452

Primary E.mminer1(enneth Downey Attorney-Polachek & Saulsbury 57 ABSTRACT This window draft preventing device is of an adjustable spring biased construction including upper and lower spring biased frame assemblies joined together at their outer ends by upwardly extending end frame members of which a closure sheet of plastic and transparent material is extended and wrapped to make two or more passes between the end frame members with one end of the closure sheet being anchored to one of the end frame members and the free end of the closure sheet being anchored to the other member through spring tension means. The frame members may be either of square or rectangular section or of tubular section seen with the different forms of the device and the connection to the end frame members of the ends of the closure sheet may be effected through vertically extending rods connected either to the end frame members or to the top and bottom members. One of the end frame members may include a curtainlike tension roll as a tensioning means for the closure sheet. The closure sheet sufficiently long and arranged to have actual engagement with the side faces of the window frame at either the lower window or upper window and also provision is made for effecting a detachable sealing engagement of the upper and lower edges of the closure sheet with the upper and lower frame assemblies.

2 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 1912 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR.

EMANUEL M FISCHER T TURNEYS FIG. 6.

PATENTEDMAY 91912 9561195 768483FIGI0 FIGJI.

INVENTOR.

EMANUEL M. FISCHER FIGJB. 98 96 447,

A T TURNE V5 PATENTEDHAY 91912 9661,1535

sum 3 [1F 3 INVEN'i 01 EMANUEL M. FISCHER FIG.I5.

AT TURNEYS WINDOW DRAFT PREVENTING DEVICE This invention relates to a window draft preventing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spring biased window draft preventing device that can be easily fitted into a window frame and secured therebetween by the biasing spring provided in the upper and lower members and wherein the closure sheet formed of plastic will have sealing engagement with the side faces of the window frame to close the window cracks.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a window draft preventing device an arrangement wherein several passes of a closure sheet is extended about the end frame members and maintained tight by spring tension means of itself connecting the sheet to one of the frame members.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a window draft preventing device having a closure sheet extending between the frame members in such a manner as to not only have contact with the window frame surfaces but also to provide a dead air space between the upper and lower frame members to insulate cold being conducted through the window glass.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a window draft preventing device in which a closure sheet is wrapped about end frames of the device and wherein the same will be tensioned at one side of the device by a curtainlike spring tension device pivoted and anchored between upper and lower frame assemblies, and wherein the closure plastic sheet is accessible for direct and sealing engagement with the inner faces of the window frame opening.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a window draft preventing device,having the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, easy to assemble, of minimum parts, can be provided easily in kit form, easy to install in the window, light in weight, transparent, effective and efficient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed construction taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a one end and front perspective view of the window draft preventing device constructed according to one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken at one end ofthe device on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken at the opposite end of the device on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a top horizontal piece and the plastic cover detachably connected to the same to enclose the upper edges of the plastic sheet upon the frame pieces.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top edge view of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with illustration being made as to the manner in which the plastic sheet can be peeled from the transverse frame.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a further detailed construction in which the ends of the vertical pieces are inwardly struck for attachment to the open ends of the runner pieces.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of a window draft preventing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the upper frame members as viewed on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. I0 is a fragmentary transverse section view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. II is a fragmentary perspective view taken of the device shown in FIG. 8 and free of the upper and lower transverse members to illustrate the system of tensioning the plastic sheet about the opposite ends of the device.

FIG. I2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the upper longitudinally extending frame piece and fragments of the oppositc vertically extending end pieces.

FIG. I3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a still further form of the invention employing flat telescoping top members with external rod and spring and with downwardly bent hook formations for the connection of the vertically extending end members.

FIG. 14 is a full one end and front perspective view ofa window draft preventing device constructed according to a further form of the invention and employing a spring curtain roll for accommodating the plastic closure sheet extended about the end members and adapted to work with the adjustable spring biased top and bottom frame members.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally on line 15-15 of FIG. 14 with the spring curtain roll and the top frame member broken away to show the spring biasing members therein.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken generally on line l6-- 16 of FIG. 15 showing the extension of the sheet about the frame and side end rolls.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 showing the first form of the invention, 20 represents the window draft preventing device that comprises generally an upper spring biased telescoping assembly 21, a similar lower frame assembly 22 that is vertically spaced downwardly from the upper frame assembly 21 and the two assemblies 21 and 22 joined at the ends by an end frame member 23 and 24, both of which being generally of channel shape with intumed flanges and tight fittingly receiving respectively the respective ends of the parts of the upper and lower spring biased frame member assemblies 21 and 22.

The upper frame member spring biasing assembly 21 comprises an outer member 26 and a telescoping inner member 27 and slidable to permit the draft preventing device to be adapted to any width size window and also with the parts being spring biased to provide for a tight fitting engagement with the side of the window frame. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, member 27 has on its inner end a fitting 28 providing a seat for compression spring 29 the opposite end of which is seated in a fitting 3| abutting the inner face of the vertically extending end frame member 23 the spring 29 will tend to extend to frame member 27 from the frame member 26. The vertically extending frame member is generally of channel section but accommodates the end of the inner member 27 by its flange 32 and its opposite flange 33 that has an inwardly bent end 34 providing a vertically extending slot 36 for accommodating plastic closure sheet 37 that is stretched about the frame mem bers by the extending of the upper and lower frame member assemblies 21 and 22 and which further has its own spring tensioning springs 38 for stretching the sheet 37 as well about the end member 23 and 24.

This closure sheet 37 is preferably formed of transparent plastic so as not to interfer with the view through the window in front of which this draft preventing device 20 is mounted, either across the lower house window frame or across the upper house window frame to thereby seal in the sides and upper portion of the windows and to keep air from traversing the cracks about the window frames. There are several vertically spaced tension springs 38 that are connected to edge 39 of the plastic closure sheet and anchored to an intumed end 41 of the flange 42 of end frame member 23 which has an opposing flange 43 between which flanges the outer end of the top frame member 26 of the top assembly 2] is retained. Flange 42 is provided with a slot 44 that extends vertically substantially the full length of the end member 23 and permits the end of the spring 38 to be looped about the intumed end 4! so as to anchor the spring 38 thereto.

The end of the plastic closure sheet 37 is anchored through the vertically extending slot 36 of the flange 33 of the vertical member 24 and about the inturned end 34 thereof as seen at 46 in FIG. 2. This closure sheet 37 extends from the intumed end 46 of the right vertical end frame member 24 laterally across the front of the device 20 over the vertically extending slot 44 and the flange 42 and about the left vertically extend ing fame member 23 and laterally across the device again and about the frame member 24, the flange 33 and through the slot 36 thereof and inwardly and over the inturned end 34 for connection of its free edge 39 with the tension springs 36 which holds the closure sheet wrapped tightly about the device and secured to the springs 38 to the inturned flange 41 of the frame member 23.

While the description has been directed to the spring biased upper frame assembly 21 it shall be understood that the lower frame member assembly 22 is similarly constructed and provided with a compression biasing spring lying within and normally causing the extension of a telescoping inner frame member 47 that is worked from outer member 48, this spring and the connection between the members being similar to the spring 29 and the seat members 28 and 31 as shown in H6. 3. These spring members 29 in the upper and lower frame assemblies 21 and 22 are sufficiently strong to maintain the stretch of the closure sheet 37 against the action of the light weight tension springs 38 which serve to normally keep the closure sheet wrapped tight about the frame members regardless of the amount of extension of the upper and lower frame assemblies 21 and 22.

It should be apparent that this draft preventing device when fitted into a window over a lower or upper panel thereof will through engagement of the closure sheet with the cracks and edges of the window will seal these edges of the window with the frame of the window and thus eliminate the passage of air through these cracks. Because of the double wrapping of the closure sheet of the frame members on opposite sides thereof there is a place provided between the sides which will more or less be dead air space which will tend to keep cold from being conducted from the glass surfaces of the window panes toward the interior of the house.

Referring to F105. 4, and 6, it will be seen that further provisions are made to effect this dead air space by providing for a sealing run of the closure sheets across the inner edges of the upper and lower frame members. On the outer frame part 26 of the upper frame assembly 21 and similarly can be provided on the front edge of the outer member 48 of the lower frame assembly 22 a strip of plastic 49 having a groove 51 serving to receive a bead 52 of a plastic strip 53 adhered to the plastic sheet 37 along the upper edge thereof. it will be seen that with the sealing of the upper and lower edges that the dead air space between the front and rear passes of the closure sheet 37 will be sealed so as to perfect the dead air space lying therebetween.

In FIG. 7 a modified assembly of upper and lower frame parts 56 with end frame members 57 is shown. For this purpose the frame member 56 may be of hollow cylindrical shape and the frame member 57 is inwardly struck to provide inwardly extending cylindrical boss or projection over which the end of the member 56 is extended in tight fitting engagement therewith.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 12, 60 represents an adjustable window draft preventing device according to another form of the invention in which upper and lower frame assemblies 61 and 62 are formed of tubular parts and end frame members 63 and 64 are also formed of tubular members connected to the upper and lower members respectively by rivets and end plug assemblies 65 and 66. The upper and lower frame member as semblies are spring biased and each of these assemblies as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 include an outer sleeve 67 with an abuttment 68 therein for a compression spring 69 that reacts against an abuttment 71 of an inner telescoping frame member 72 and this spring 69 maintains a tight fitting engagement of the device with the sides of the window frame the tubular vertical frame members 63 and 64 have holed plugs 73 and 74 respectively in their upper ends and similar plugs disposed respectively in their lower ends. These holed plugs on the vertical frame member 63 and 64 receive double bent ends 76 and 77 of respective vertically extending closure sheet attaching rods 78 and 79 to which closure sheet 81 of transparent plastic is attached after being wrapped about the end frame members 63 and 64.

One end of the closure sheet is anchored at 82 about the right rod 79 by a stitched loop and makes a front pass laterally over the left member 63 and therearound and a rear pass to the right about right tubular member 64 and around to the front thereof and under the rod 79 to make a further front pass so that its end 83 can be connected by tension springs 84. several of which being used and vertically spaced from one another and these tension springs in turn connected to the rod 78 at the left side of the device. It will thus be seen that there is a triple expanse between the right and left members that will overlie the front of the window when this device is disposed between the frames thereof. It will be apparent that the initial adjustment of the device into the window frame is accommodated by the compression spring 69 provided in both the upper and lower frame members 61 and 62. It will also be seen that independently of these springs that by means of the tension springs 04, the closure sheet 81 will be maintained in a wrapped and tight condition at all times about the end frame members 63 and 64 of the device.

in FIG. 13 there is shown a somewhat different construction wherein instead of tubular members flat elongated members 85 and 86 are provided to make a top frame assembly 87 with the inner member 86 being slidable out of the outer member 85 and held biasingly extended by a compression spring 88 ex tended about a rod 89 carried between depending projections 91 and 92 on the respective members 85 and 86 with the rod 91 being anchored to the depending projection 92 and slidable through the projection 91. The bottom frame member can be similarly constructed and arranged to oppose this upper frame member 87.

To simplify the manner in which the ends of the frame members 85 and 86 would be connected into the upper and lower ends of the tubular end frame members 93, the frame member 85 is downwardly bent at an angle at 94 to have tight fitting engagement with the upper end of the tubular member 93 and in a similar manner with the lower end thereof for the lower frame member and also for the connection of the upper and lower frame members with the right tubular member not shown. Closure sheet 95 is wrapped about the frame members 93 in a manner as described above and its free end 96 is secured by vertically spaced tension springs 97 to a rod 98 having inwardly bent ends 99 mounted in a hole in the side edge of frame members 85 adjacent to the downwardly bent end 94. It will be apparent that the operation of this draft preventing device frame assembly 87 is the same as that above described in connection with the other forms of the invention, the device being placed in the window frame in tight fitting engagement, either at the upper window level or at the lower window level to close all cracks at the sides of the window and to provide in effect a dead inner space in the front thereof to minimize the connection of cold from the window panes.

Referring now, particularly to FIGS. l4, l5 and 16, there is shown a still further form of the invention in which a draw curtain roll 101 is used to maintain the tension of the closure sheet 102 mounted at the left side of window draft preventing device with the closure sheet 102 extended about an idler roll 103 at the right side of the device. This device 100 comprises generally upper and lower spring biasing frame assemblies 104 and 104' the spring biased curtain roll 101 lying within three cagelike 105, 106 and 107, the idler roll 103 and the closure sheet 102 extending between the rolls 101 and 103. This closure sheet 102 is looped about and anchored to the vertically extending rod 107 and extends about over the vertically extending rods 106 and and the cross space to the idler roll 103 and then passed to the left to and anchored upon the spring curtain roll 101 at 103 as best seen in FIG. 6.

The curtain roll 101 is solid except for an upper end opening 109 for accommodating a winding spring 111 surrounding an upstanding post journaled at its lower end 112 in the bottom of the opening 109 and extending upwardly and finished off in a projection of rectangular section as best seen at 113 which is accommodated in an opening or slot 114 provided in the left end of the upper frame assembly 104. The winding coil spring 111 is anchored at 115 in the lower end of the opening 109 and at its upper end at M6 to the upper end of the pivot pin 112 and adjacent its rectangular section end 113. The pivot pin 112 is restrained against rotation by the insertion of the rectangular end 113 into the rectangular opening 114 of the top frame assembly 104. The spring 111 will have a tendency to maintain the closure sheet 102 wound upon the curtain roll 101 in the direction of the arrow as best seen in FIG. 16. The rectangular projection 113 extends through a closure spring plate 117 that has the rectangular shaped opening and is accommodated upon a shoulder provided upon the pin 112 as best seen at 118.

The upper and lower frame assemblies 104 and 105 formed of inner and outer telescoping members 121, I22 and 123 and 124. A description of the internal construction of one of these members will be directed toward the upper frame member 104 as best seen in FIG. 15. A seat 126 is provided on the inner end of the member 121 and receives coil spring 127 which reacts against a seal 128 fitted in the outer end of the member 122. Frame assemblies 104 and 104' are formed of tubular members of rectangular section and are cut away at their opposite ends to accomodate the curtain spring and idler rolls 101 and 103. The curtain roll 10! is pivoted at its lower end to the member 124 of the lower frame assembly 105 by a pivot pin 131 driven into the end of the roll 10]. The upper and lower ends of the idler roll 103 is similarly connected to the upper and lower frame assemblies 105 and 106 by plug pins 132.

In operation this draft preventing device 100 will be the same as above described, wherein the frame device is inserted into the window frames for tight engagement at its sides by engagement of the outer surfaces of the closure plastic sheet with the side faces of the window frame and the inner pass of the closure sheet engaging tightly against the window glass panels so as to provide dead air space therebetween and between the passes of the closure material wrapped about the device. It will be seen that the free end of the closure material would be kept tight by the coil spring roll 101 while permitting ill.

extension of the upper and lower frame pieces for engagement with the sides of the window frame.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A window draft preventing device comprising upper and lower spring biased telescoping assemblies, end members extending vertically between the upper and lower frame assemblies and a closure sheet wrapped about the end frame members providing for two passes of the closure sheet therebetween, means for anchoring the closure sheet vertically to one of the end frame members and tensioning means for connecting the free end of the closure sheet to other of the frame members, said tension means for the free end of the closure sheet comprising tension springs vertically spaced from one another and anchored at vertically spaced locations upon an end frame member and said closure sheet being anchored to the opposite end frame member, said end frame members being of channel section with the ends of the upper and lower assemblies tight fitted in the upper and lower ends of the end frame members, one of the flanges of the vertically extending members having an intumed end and elongated vertical slot extending substantially the full height of the end frame member and said closure sheet being anchored about the inturned end of the flange of one of the end frame members and said tension springs being anchored through the opening and to the in turned flange of the opposite end frame member.

2. A window draft preventing device, as defined in claim 1 and said upper and lower frame assemblies having a grooved plastic strip running along the frontal side edge thereof and said closure sheet having a beaded strip adapted to cooperate with the groove strip upon the top and lower frame assemblies to enclose the space between lateral passes of the closure sheet and tend to maintain a dead air space between these passes of the closure sheet.

1 t i I \I nun-n 

1. A window draft preventing device comprising upper and lower spring biased telescoping assemblies, end members extending vertically between the upper and lower frame assemblies and a closure sheet wrapped about the end frame members providing for two passes of the closure sheet therebetween, means for anchoring the closure sheet vertically to one of the end frame members and tensioning means for connecting the free end of the closure sheet to other of the frame members, said tension means for the free end of the closure sheet comprising tension springs vertically spaced from one another and anchored at vertically spaced locations upon an end frame member and said closure sheet being anchored to the opposite end frame member, said end frame members being of channel section with the ends of the upper and lower assemblies tight fitted in the upper and lower ends of the end frame members, one of the flanges of the vertically extending members having an inturned end and elongated vertical slot extending substantially the full height of the end frame member and said closure sheet being anchored about the inturned end of the flange of one of the end frame members and said tension springs being anchored through the opening and to the in turned flange of the opposite end frame member.
 2. A window draft preventing device, as defined in claim 1 and said upper and lower frame assemblies having a grooved plastic strip running along the frontal side edge thereof and said closure sheet having a beaded strip adapted to cooperate with the groove strip upon the top and lower frame assemblies to enclose the space between lateral passes of the closure sheet and tend to maintain a dead air space between these passes of the closure sheet. 